Automatic cut-off for trolley-lines.



R. BROWN. AUTOMATIC GUT-OFF FOB TBOLLEY LINES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

[NV TOR WITNESSES U m m A UNITED STATl ES PA'IENT ()FFICE.

ROBERT BROWN, OF WINDBER, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF FOR TROLLEY-LINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Windber, in the county of Somerset and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Cut-Outs for Trolley-Lines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to cut outs or circuit breakers for trolley linesand has for its objects the provision of a device simple and inexpensivein construction that is operated by the trolley wheel to make and breakthe circuit in a part of the line so as to render the cut out sectionharmless.

My invention is especially adapted to electric lines used in miningwhere there is danger of persons getting in contact with the power wireand consists of a plate secured in each branch line running in to aheading having the middle portion thereof of nonconducting materialwhile its ends are made of a good conductor and have spring contactblades secured thereto. A lever arm is i pivotally secured to the middleportion and is always-in contact with the spring blades in circuit withthe main line end of the plate while when there is no car in the headingthe lever is positioned so that its other end is free. When a car entersa heading the trolley wheel in passing over the lever presses it intoenga ement with the spring blades in circuit with the branch line intothe heading, and the power remains on the branch line as long as the caris in the heading. When the car leaves the heading the trolley wheelrocks the lever arm in the opposite direction so that the end is free ofthe contact blades in circuit with the branch line and said line is deaduntil another car enters the heading.

My invention will be described in detail hereinafter and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view in elevationof my improved circuit breaker showing the position when the branch lineis cut out, Fig. 2, a similar view showing the position when the branchline is in circuit, and Fig. 3, a cross section on the line ac:c of Fig.2.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate correspondingparts in all the views.

A indicates the wire in circuit with the main line or power wire (notshown) and B the branch line wire leading into a heading inSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 16, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

Serial No. 453,345.

which it is desired to cut out the current ex cept where there is a cartherein.

My'improved circuit breaker consists of a plate 1 of non-conductingmaterial such as wood, hard rubber, glass, etc. having plates 2 and 2''of metal secured to its two ends and, in circuit with the wires A and Brespectively, leaving a space 1 intermediate of the ends of the plate ofthe material of the plate so that the wire B is normally not in circuitwith wire A. The lower edge of plate 1 is formed with three notches 3, 4and 5, the notch 3 being in the insulated portion 1 the notch 4 in theportion covered by plate 2 which is also notched to conform to notch 4,and the notch 5 in the portion covered by plate 2 which is also notchedto conform to notch 5.

6 indicates a lever having a projection 7 extending into .notch 3 andpivotally secured to plate 1 by means of a strap 8 secured to theportion 1 and pivotally secured to projection 7 by means of pin or bolt8 9 indicates a lug or projection on one end of lever 6 that extendsinto notch 4 and is always in engagement with contact blades 10 securedto plates 2, and 11 a shorter lug or projection on the other end of thelever which is normally out of contact with spring blades 12 secured toplate 2 The free ends of blades 12 are bent inwardly as shown at 12, andthen flared outwardly, as shown at 12, to guide the lug 11 between theblades 12 and hold them in said position until released as hereinafterdescribed.

In operation my improved circuit breaker is normally in the ositionshown in Fig. 1 with the lug 11 not 1n contact with blades 127 Then inthis position the Wire B is dead. When a car passes plate 1 so that thetrolley engages lever 6 and the lug 11 is pushed into engagement withblades 12, the device will be in the position shown in Fig. 2. In thisoperation of the lever 6 the outwardly flared ends 12 guide the lug 11between the blades 12 and the inwardly bent portions 12 clamp the lug inthat position, while the car is on wire B, which is then in circuit withwire A and the current flows from Wire A through plate 2, blades 10,lever 6, blades 12, plate 2 and into wire B. When the car returns thetrolley in passing over lever 6 rocks it in the opposite direction sothat the lug 11 does not engage blades 12 and the device is again in theposition shown in Fig. 1 and the wire B is out of circuit with Wire A.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim is 1. In a circuitbreaker for electric conductors, conductor wires, a plate ofnon-conducting material, the ends of said plate secured to saidconductor wires, a lever pivotally secured intermediate of its ends tothe plate of non-conducting material, one end of said le- Ver always incontact with the conductor wire at the end of the plate and adapted toswing into and out of contact with the wire at the other end of theplate.

2. In a circuit breaker for electric conductors, conductor wires, aplate of non-conducting material, the ends of the plate covered withmetal secured to said conductor wires, a lever i'ulcrumed intermediateof its ends on said plate, one end of said lever in continuous contactwith the metal at one end of the plate and adapted to swing into and outof engagement with the metal at the other end of the late.

3. In a circuit reaker for electric conductors, conductor wires, a plateof non-conducting material, the ends of the plate covered with metalsecured to said conductor wires, a lever fulcrumed intermediate of itsends on said plate, contact blades secured to the metal at the two endsof the plate, one

end of the lever in continuous contact with the blades at one end of theplate and adapted to swing into and out of engagement with the blades atthe other end.

4. A circuit breaker for electric conductors com rising a plate made ofa non-con ductor o electricity, plates of metal secured to the ends ofthe first mentioned plate, a wire in circuit with each metal plate, saidplates formed with notches, one notch in the non-conductor middleportion of the first mentioned plate and one each in the ends havin themetal plates secured thereto, contact bIades secured to said metalplates and extending into the notches aforesaid, a lever having a lugseated in the notch in the non conductor portion of the plate andpivotally secured therein, and a lug on each end of the lever, one lugbeing always in engagement with the blades in one notch, and the lug atthe other end adapted to swing into and out of engagement withthe'blades inthe other notch.

In testimony whereof I'hereto affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ROBERT BROWN.

Witnesses:

L. F. RANDOLPH, Jr., JAMES L. CRAWFORD.

